In 2016, Noel set up his own company, HSQE Gloucestershire Ltd, working as a management consultant. In this role, Noel has been helping companies with compliance against standards such as ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 45001 (formerly OHSAS 18001) Occupational Health and Safety. Noel has been a registered lead auditor with the IRCA since 1988, helping organisations to implement and maintain the ISO standards including environmental impact assessments.
Prior to this, Noel spent around 20 years working in the rail industry as Head of Health, Safety Quality and Environmental Management (HSQE) in a number of large organisations. In the rail industry there is also something called RISQS, which also requires compliance to similar controls to ISO standards, as well as many other stringent areas due to the nature of safety and environmental controls needed on the rail infrastructure. During his rail career, Noel worked on the Channel Tunnel Rail project, and he has been involved with many other rail infrastructure projects over the years. Previously, Noel also worked for a Gloucestershire organisation as a Director for around 12 years, building and supplying portable kitchens and modular catering facilities. During his time with the organisation, Noel was the nominated safety director for the organisation's supply and build of the Sydney Olympics Athletes Village. Prior to this, Noel was heavily involved during the Bosnian and Kosovan conflicts supplying kitchens and staff to the military.
Noel left school aged 15 and subsequently served a five-year indentured engineering apprenticeship. Following this he worked in aerospace, lift and escalator manufacturing and installation, modular building and portable kitchens manufacture and installation, and the rail industry. During his management career, Noel studied with the universities of Derby and Portsmouth undertaking Masters level degree programmes covering management assurance, occupational health and safety and environmental science, as well as doctoral level studies with other institutes and universities. Noel fitted his academic studies into his busy working and family life by distance learning, research and attendance at university over many years, and he continues to study and learn to this day.
Noel chose many years ago to become a member of the IES due to the Institution's values and the promotion of environmental science and sustainability. Noel has been a Full Member of the IES and Chartered Scientist since 2014, and enjoys the interaction and constant learning gained from the very diverse specialisms of the organisation's membership.
In the future, Noel hopes to continue to use his many years of leadership, management skills and experiences to help and mentor others. Noel has the view that one must be able to pass on knowledge and mentor others, as it is all part of the point of gaining experience and knowledge!
